NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-04-2025 12PM EDT

Episode Date: October 4, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. It's day four of the government shutdown, and there's no movement in sight to end the stalemate. A fourth vote for a short-term bill failed in the Senate yesterday. Democrats are insisting that any short-term bill include an extension of health care subsidies, scheduled to expire this year. Republicans say open the government now and discuss that later. The Democratic leader in the House, Hakeem Jeffreys, is not moved by that offer. Why would we believe, that Republicans have any interest in addressing the Affordable Care Act based on their word. When for 15 years, Republicans have been doing everything possible to gut the Affordable Care Act. It's not clear when any new negotiations will be held. Senate leader John Thune says no votes will be held this weekend. The House is in recess until October 13th. The president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners is calling on Congress to act quickly to extend Obamacare subsidies.

As NPR's Selena Simmons-Duffin reports, the Republican from North Dakota, insists this is not a partisan issue. Insurance commissioners across the country unanimously agree that Congress should act quickly to keep Obamacare insurance plans affordable. John Godfried is the association's president. He's also the elected Republican Insurance Commissioner of North Dakota. With these enhancements, we saw more farmers and ranchers purchasing coverage for their families. So it's been really, really good on that front. Even though insurance carriers have already locked in their rates for 2026, he says it's not too late. Most states, if not all states, had their carriers filed two sets of rates, one with subsidies, one without.

So if Congress extends the enhanced subsidies as they are in the next few weeks, he thinks states will be able to implement the subsidized rates before, enrollment opens November 1st. Selina Simmons-Duffin and PR News, Washington. In Germany, Munich Airport is operating again after unconfirmed drone sightings, grounded flights for the second time in less than a day. Politicians are pointing the finger at Moscow, but authorities have not yet identified where the drones originated. Esme Nicholson reports. At least 6,500 passengers were impacted overnight into Saturday by suspected drone sightings at Munich Airport, one of Germany's

major aviation hubs. The incident is the latest in a spate of drone sightings over airports, military bases and critical infrastructure in Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Norway and Poland. German Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dorbrandt says he is planning legislation to make it easier for police to ask the military to shoot down drones. He also says he backs plans for a drone wall comprising detection and countermeasures along NATO's eastern flank. For MPR News, I'm Esmine Nicholson in Berlin. This is NPR News. Ukrainian President Veledimir Zelensky says a Russian drone struck a railway station today

and dozens of passengers and rail workers were wounded. Local officials say it hit a train that was bound for the capital, Kiev. Zelensky wrote on social media that the Russians could not have been unaware. They were targeting civilians. Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, or LDP, has chosen a conservative, woman as its next leader. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports Japan's parliament is expected to vote her as prime minister later this month. Former economic security minister, Sinai Takaichi, beat out four other competitors

in two rounds of voting. She's now poised to become Japan's first female prime minister. Takaiichi advocates increased defense spending and stricter immigration controls. She opposes same-sex marriage and letting women exceed to Japan's imperial throne. Japanese are fed up with a political establishment. The LDP, which has governed Japan for most of the past seven decades, now finds itself in the minority in both houses of parliament. It can only get its legislation passed by forming coalitions with opposition parties. Takeichi will face an early test of her foreign policy skills

when President Trump visits Japan towards the end of this month. Anthony Kuhn in PR News, Seoul. Today is World Animal Day observed every October 4th since 1925, 100 years today to protect the rights and needs of animals that every creature is entitled to respect. The theme this year is save animals, save the planet, that saving animal lives favors a healthier, more sustainable world. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News in Washington.